Liftoff is turning weightlifting into a habit – and a business.

With $200K in monthly revenue, a 4.9★ rating from 30,000+ users, and no breakout virality, this app is stacking small wins into sustainable growth.

Let’s break down how they’re doing it.

Onboarding That Feels Like a Habit Loop

Liftoff’s onboarding is longer than most – but it’s deliberate.

• A Duolingo-style mascot walks users through

• Starts with affirmations (“You got this”)

• Asks detailed fitness and goal-related questions

• Rewards the user with a digital medal

• Then prompts for a review – right when motivation peaks

This isn’t fluff. It’s psychology-led onboarding that builds emotional buy-in before asking for anything.

Notification Opt-Ins with Built-In Intent

Instead of showing an OS-level notification prompt upfront, Liftoff takes a smarter route:

• First, it asks: “When should we remind you to work out?”

• Then, once the user picks a time, it shows the system permission prompt

This intent-before-permission flow increases opt-ins – and sets the tone for daily habit-building.

A Multi-Screen Paywall That Converts

Their paywall comes in a clean, focused sequence:

• Three screens, each focused on one core message

 

 

• Clear CTA for a 7-day trial

• Exit → triggers a discount offer

This structure avoids information overload and gives users space to say “yes.”

Lab members consistently report this multi-screen format outperforms traditional one-pagers.

Social Strategy That Seeds Long-Term Equity

Liftoff doesn’t chase trends – it builds presence.

• Instagram: 64K followers, over 300M views

• TikTok: Multiple accounts, including one dedicated to fitness memes

They’ve evolved from faceless content to mixed formats, reinforcing both credibility and relatability.

ASO That Wins on Intent

Despite the competition in fitness, Liftoff ranks Top 3 for 700+ App Store keywords like:

• “gym progress”

• “lift the weights”

• “gym routine weights”

These are high-intent, repeat-search queries – perfect for compounding organic installs over time.

Paid Ads That Amplify, Not Overspend

Liftoff isn’t trying to brute-force growth. Their paid strategy is lean, but targeted:

• Apple Search Ads: Bidding on 42 focused keywords

• Meta: 42 active video ads

They’re not flooding platforms – just reinforcing the funnels that already work.

Growth Hacks That Powered the Rise of Liftoff

✅ Psychology-first onboarding with emotion-driven review timing
✅ Notification prompts after intent capture
✅ Multi-screen paywall with discount trigger
✅ Brand-building via content, not just ads
✅ High-leverage ASO with sticky fitness keywords
✅ Paid ads used for precision, not volume

Liftoff didn’t go viral.

They built a system – and every part converts on purpose.